REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXIII 



On July 24 Lieut. William C. Babcock, who had been on the staff 

 of the Commission for some time, was detached and ordered to the 

 Lackawanna at Panama. 



Lieut. Francis Winslow, who had also been on special duty with the 

 Commission, was detached on August 17. 



On December 31 Lieut. W. M. Wood, commanding the Fish Hawk, 

 was detached, and Ensign Piepmeyer placed temporarily in command. 



E. — Other Vessels. 



For some time past the importance of having a vessel constructed 

 specially for transporting living fish, such as cod, halibut, &c., from the 

 fishing grounds to the Wood's HoU or other shore station, where the 

 eggs could be obtained and properly fertilized, has been manifest, and 

 Capt. J. W. Collins, of the Fish Commission, was requested to prepare 

 plans for this purpose. He has devoted several years to this investi- 

 gation, and during his visits as an officer of the Commission to the fish- 

 eries exhibitions at Berlin in 1880 and at London in 1883, paid special 

 attention to the problem, studying the features of construction of the 

 fishing vessels, particularly of England and Holland, and furnishing 

 some important ideas which have been embodied in the plans and speci- 

 fications prepared under his direction. An appropriation of $14,000, 

 the estimated cost of the vessel, has been asked for from Congress, and 

 it is to be hoped will be granted. As soon as the money is available 

 bids will be invited and contracts entered into for the completion of the 

 vessel at the earliest possible time. The details of this vessel will 

 probably be given in the report for the year 1885. 



The supply of small boats for the service of the Commission has been 

 kept up at the different stations as occasion required. Among these 

 is a catboat for communication between Havre de Grace and Battery 

 Station. 



5. — OARS. 



The two cars arranged for and built within the last few years for the 

 transportation of eggs and young fish, were reinforced during 1884 

 by another of admirable construction, in which the lessons of the first 

 two were applied. An appropriation of $8,500 was made by Congress, 

 and with this the car was built and equipped. The uses to which it has 

 been placed will be fully detailed in a subsequent part of this report. 



G. — COURTESIES EXTENDED TO THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMIS- 

 SION. 



A.— By the Government. 



Treasury Department. — Secretary's Office. — Assistant Secretary 

 H. F. French, on March 10, issued instructions to custom-house officers 



